Heavy Rain and Severe Storms: July 21-22, 2014

Rainfall for the 24-hour period ending July 22, 2014 Courtesy: National Weather Service

At the tail end of a hot and muggy day, a large line of severe thunderstorms raced eastward across central and northern Minnesota on July 21st. The storms moved into northeast Minnesota after midnight. High winds downed trees and power lines. Wind gusts were measured at 74mph just east of Floodwood in St. Louis County. There was damage at the Eveleth-Virginia Airport with one hangar and the plane that was inside was destroyed.

Trees were also blown down in parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Hardest hit was a swath just south of Lake LaCroix. Seven campers were injured by the falling trees in two different groups.

One tornado was reported in Polk County near Eldred.

In addition to the severe weather, heavy rains fell as well with the most rain falling in northwest Minnesota. Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge in Marshall County saw the most rain reported so far with 4.43 inches of rain in a span of about 12 hours. The southern half of Minnesota did not receive any rain at all from these storms.

The Duluth National Weather Service posted a summary of the July 21-22 storms.

Below are storm reports and public information statements and storm reports from the National Weather Service.